ECSCA Race Is Canceled - I'm Still Going

It's not new news, we all know that the races were canceled for North Face Endurance California. Let me start this blog by saying how proud I am of the way people came together to help those in need. North Face donated the $30,000 prize money, clothing, food, nutrition and more to relief efforts.
A group of my November Project tribe members organized a race in Truckee, CA to raise funds for relief work and North Face stepped up to match dollar for dollar every donation. It was truly an amazing and beautiful thing.That said, here goes the blog entry.

So we received news that The North Face had to cancel the Endurance Challenge Race Weekend in San Francisco in November this year, due to the fires in northern California compromising the air quality. Several people decided to change their travel plans and/or cancel altogether. A big group of us; however, loaded up on N95 respirator masks and turned it into a vacation anyway. I'm so eternally glad we did. I mean it was part of history, albeit a sad part and we were there to see it firsthand.

My November Project San Diego tribe members Alex, Jacob & I stayed with Vivek, one of the members of the NP San Francisco tribe and had a blast. We had events every night and smaller group outings which was a great way to get closer with my tribe. We went out and I got to visit Haight Ashbury, the birthplace of the hippie counterculture movement. I had a blast visiting the Golden Gate Bridge, Sutro Baths & Crissy Field. We ran the Mosaic Steps and Lyon Street Stairs. I got to see the Painted Ladies and the Full House house.

I got to hang with friends in the Castro for lunch. It was great to be there, in this very specific period of time and see how the city stands beautifully, even under such crazy circumstances.

But more than that I was reminded of how much these people mean to me, of how much my life becomes better by having them around. November Project currently has 49 official tribes across the world, all working to bring a message of Free Fitness scaleable to all fitness levels to everyone. All you have to do is #JustShowUp.

Oh and I now have every tribe in California covered on my Cali Traverbal shirt. Boom!!!

All photos in this blog entry by Alex Pardus.

Sutro Baths 2018 - Photo by Alex Pardus

Lyon Street Stairs. Running Stairs in N95 Masks - Photo by Alex Pardus

Golden Gate Bridge 2018 - Photo by Alex Pardus

Happier, Stronger, Brighter - NPSD Anniversary

Wednesday, November 7th was my 1 Year Anniversary with November Project San Diego.
Let's revisit the Joalby of last year. The Joalby who was invited to NP for years and never went.
1. I'm not a people person
2. I don't like people touching me
3. I don't like running hills

My life has been transformed and enriched by the presence of  this group of equally crazy and intense individuals in my life. In this past year alone, these people have been there to help push me towards becoming a better version of myself, pulled me out of a rut & cycle of fear and untrust that had come to dictate my life for a long while.
In this past year I have road tripped with these people. I have traveled across the country with these people. I have trained for a 50k under the guidance of the OG NPSD leader, Lauren Padula. I have ran my first full marathon under the guidance of these people. I have become a morning person. I have learned the power of human connection and hugs and allowing myself to have people in my corner, who believe in me. I have learned to believe in my abilities, my strengths, and more so in the possibilities for my life. I have learned to trust people again. The road to greatness is never empty, rather the road this past year has had cameos and appearances by so many of these people.

This is my Tribe. This is a family. This is (not) a cult. These people are the why I wake up and do this crazy stuff while everyone else is still asleep. November Project is the reason I will jump in my car and drive to NP Los Angeles just to run along the Santa Monica Pier or up a 35 grade hill. November Project is the reason I will fly to NP Phoenix to run around the butte of a mountain and do stair repeats in Papago Park during the lunar eclipse. November Project is why I will drive to UCLA at 3:30am to run Drake Stadium on 4th of July with NP West LA. It's why I fly to Denver to do an Easter Egg Hunt sliding across icy grass with NP Denver. It's why I flew to Oakland to avoid San Diego's PR Day & guarantee myself a PR doing PR Day with NP Oakland. It's why I joined 49 other tribes in Milwaukee forging some of the best relationships and friendships I've had in a long time. I'll tell you what if Jesse from NP LAX had told me before a year ago to drive up to LA on my day off to workout on the Santa Monica Pier, he would have gotten a very different response out of me.

Who says your mid 30s are your mid life crisis? Fuck that, I showed up at 36 and now at 37, I'm still barely starting to live. One year down, many more to come.

Thank you November Project - SD for making me better, giving me friends who share in my passions and making my blood type - Type Cold Brew Positive. There are 49 November Project Tribes across the USA for you to visit and the movement continues to grow every day. Join us. Stop wondering about this crazy thing we're all doing in the mornings. Stop saying one day I'll join you. #JustShowUp

November Project San Diego meets
MONDAYS = 6:29am (Rotating Locations throughout San Diego) = Follow our IG for more info
WEDNESDAYS = 6:29am (Bea Evanson Fountain at Balboa Park)

Other great things my NP Anniversary Week brought along was my return (after being away for 50k training) to Lululemon Run Club Mondays & Tuesday Stairs.

Plus did I mention that I finally got to see one of my favourite bands, THE PAPER KITES, with Grant on my NP Anniversary night. The music was beautiful, amazing and such an awesome night reminiscing on my drive through the Australian countryside listening to their music in 2016. Let's just say it was an amazing night & it gave me an even better appreciation for their music.

NPSD - You Will Be Changed. You Will Be Challenged. You WILL Love It.

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Road to 50k Culmination - DNF Renews My Passion & Drive

I've pushed off writing this Blog entry, partly because it would mean connecting with the emotional part of this weekend, but partly because as much as I feel stronger and that I know so much more about myself through this journey, I'm proud of myself, but I'd be lying if I said I was happy with the end result.

I went into the race ready & I was surrounded by friends at the Aid Stations. Lake Hodges 50k was my first time going for something this big / this grand. I trained hard & as is the case with any big goals, sometimes it's not going to end your way & it will be through no fault of your own. I found out approaching Mile 19 that I was a bit over the cutoff time & I still ran it in to the aid station mile marker with a smile on my face the entire way. Yes, I was upset with myself. Yes, I was proud of myself, but I've learned it's possible to be proud of what you've done & still upset at where you've fallen short.

I was greeted by friends at the start line & it felt great to have Elevation Culture at the start line, as
well as a few of the ECTR family out on the trail while I ran. The course was beautiful and 8 miles in I was greeted by my coach Lauren Padula along with Arlo & Alice and my NP fam Michelle. I maintained a good pace. I ran a bit up Raptor Ridge and continued to maintain a decent pace for the run. It was a miscalculation on my part that caused me to DNF. I did everything in my power to account for the cutoffs; however, failed when it came to allowing for any circumstances out of the
usual. The mile marker cutoff ended up being a bit further back from where I had allotted for it in my race prep & planning.

So coming up on Mile 19, I had already come to terms with the fact that I was going to get cut. I had already cried on the trail a bit knowing today wouldn't be the day that I would complete an Ultra - but most importantly, I had already accepted that this was the end for today's attempt. My friend Gretchen came running up to meet me as I got to Mile 19 & with a big smile on my face we ran it into the aid station together. A few minutes later, my friend from Just Run Del Sur came in as the sweeper, I stayed at the aid station and rehydrated before jumping in Gretchen's car & going to grab pizza.

I ended my first 50k experience hanging in the Elevation Culture tent & thinking back on the run. Ok
so I didn't finish, but I ran my fastest 30k Distance that day on a trail, faster than I had ever ran that
distance on a road. I smiled and laughed and cheered on other runners the entire 19miles I was on that course. I took in some of the most beautiful views I've ever come across on a trail run. I felt part of something that I've never felt at a road race event. I had other runners cheering me on along the course. I felt free. I felt happy. And before I left I knew, I'm coming back next year & I'm going to crush it. I made the mistake of saying it out loud to which Eric & the EC team said why wait. I'm already conditioned and I've already trained. Jump back into it. And while I walked back to my car upset that today hadn't gone my way, I logged onto Facebook and committed myself to doing the San Diego 50 Trail Marathon, also put on by Off Road Pursuits.


My experience running my first Ultra was one that I'll always remember & through it (the good, the fun & the DNF), I've discovered a love I had for running I never knew I had. Through this race I was motivated & inspired to move forward with trademarking what will be my next goal in my running journey.

Trademark Process has begun. Stay tuned for an upcoming blog with detailed information on my next venture, "RUN HEAVY, LIVE LOUD"

Lake Hodges Trail Fest 2018 (Oct 27th, 2018)

Lake Hodges Trail Fest 2018 = (Oct 27th, 2018)

Road to 50k Week 17 - Road to 50k Pulls Into Its Final Stop

Week 17. Wait what? Has it really been 4 months of training? Are we really pulling into the final stop on this Road to 50k? Am I seriously about to join the world of UltraMarathon Runner? Am I going to earn the right to wear the Ultra Ballcap from The North Face?
Through all the anxiety, nightmares, stressors and such, I'm also beyond excited and confident that I have this. I didn't come this far to NOT finish. Lake Hodges 50k, I'm coming for ya.

Week 17. What did Week 17 hold for me? I mean besides taper tantrums and such. I kicked off my week with Yoga for Athletes at The Movement Space SD and as I had a Rest Day on Monday, went out with Tim, Jess & Grant to watch Venom - cos Tom Hardy... duh.

Tuesday, I got lost on my 10 Mile Run. Turned wrong and ended up in a deserted Trailer Park which added 2 miles to my run, totaling 12 miles. Between running through the trailer park, over the memorial bridge back into Pacific Beach and along the coast, it was such a beautiful run and a great day to be running. I love living in Pacific Beach.

Wednesday, we did November Project SD, and Sam Lee was back in town. Sam, Jess, Antonette & myself had matching Run Like Marinello tank-tops made, because c'mon Marinello is like the example of proper running form. Also, it was the first time that John Thomas decided to #JustShowUp to NPSD. Great workout, great time, great fun.

Thursday, I met up with Alex for some photos and promo shoots at Tecolote Canyon to document my journey at this point through the Road to 50k journey. We got some great footage and photos and I loved the experience of getting my inner fitness model on display. Afterward, I drove up to Los Angeles where I met with a large group at Rose Bowl in Pasadena to run the Lululemon x Strava Ghost Race 8k. It was amazing and beautiful & I'm so glad I was able to cross off Rose Bowl from my must run courses. Afterwards I met up with Adam from NPLAX who I stayed with for the night, so that I could make Piertober.

Friday, I woke up and joined November Project LAX & November Project West LA at Santa Monica Pier for their Beachtober / Piertober Workout. As tired as I was, I had promised Jesse I would be there, plus the workout was amazing, beautiful views and so much fun to see my LA area peoples before my race. The amount of support and cheers I received and well wishes for the 50k before leaving was such an awesome feeling.

I drove straight home after the workout & went to watch Halloween. Ended my weekend on Saturday with a Chiropractor Adjustment with Jared at Fix Body Group, before meeting up with Audrey to watch Free Solo.

NEXT WEEK IS THE RACE! Oh shite, NEXT WEEK IS THE RACE!
Like the next Blog Post I post will be as Joalby, UltraRunner.

Trail Running Tecolote Canyon. Photo by Alex Pardus

NP LAX / NP West LA Piertober at Santa Monica Pier

November Project SD - Run Like Marinello

Road to 50k Week 16 - Tapering & (My Oppinion on) Danger of Encouraging Complacency vs Action

4 Months in. Dear Lord, we are now two weeks from Race Day. I began tapering this week and had a little too much time to think about other things than training, but more on that in a bit.
Monday found me getting lost during a 5k along the Port of San Diego & Marina with November Project. I ended up doing an extra half mile. Tuesday, my Long Run ended up being a Half Marathon from Pacific Beach into Ocean Beach through the Tidepools over to Sunset Cliffs and looping back around with Hill Street run & running the OB Pier before ending back in Ocean Beach Business District.
Wednesday, we celebrated November Project San Diego's 5th Birthday with an awesome Circus Themed Workout and I doubled up with Deadlift Day PSC at Performance 360 Ocean Beach. Thursday, I was back at Elevation Culture for a 4 Mile Run through Rose Canyon and Friday I doubled up with my DownTown Friday Convention Center Stairs group in a great workout led by my girl Deveney and I followed it up with a 2 Mile Run over Ingraham Street Bridge out and back, which ended in me getting a PR on the North Bridge by 30 seconds, South Bridge by 25 seconds and Vacation Island by over 2 minutes. Woot woot.

I had a chance to discuss my journey and vision for my Fitness Journey and what's next after the 50k with a few people this week and last, and what resulted is a need to change the mindset of people with regards to fitness. This may ruffle some feathers, but before reading on, please know I'm not telling you not to love your body where you're at. I'm simply saying don't settle for an unhealthy life & love yourself enough to want better for yourself.


Ok so here it goes, the minute we stop seeing everything I've done with my weight loss as impressive will be a very necessary & amazing moment in my life.
We live in a time where we preach loving ourselves where we are, we cheer and champion for body acceptance, we have made it to where it is socially acceptable to be unhealthy and we support it. And to me that is dangerous. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying not to love yourself or to not be happy with your body. What I'm saying is don't become complacent, don't become comfortable, don't love your body so much that you forget to love yourself enough to want to become healthier and the best possible version of yourself.
People tell me my story, my journey, my determination inspires them. Thank you but no..no.. No, thank you. You see because the minute we separate what I've done, what so many others have done from this idea of it being impressive, is the moment others will see it's really not impressive at all. All I did was START.
And if we let people keep viewing that as impressive, we actually do them a disservice in saying I did something they can't do. I want my "impressive" to not be impressive but to cause a shift where it's not impressive, rather where its the new norm.
Love yourself where you are by all means, but for God's sake, please don't grow comfortable and stay there.

DownTown Fridays 10.12.2018 - Convention Center Stairs & Core Circuit

Happy 5th Birthday NPSD!!!

DownTown Fridays 10.12.2018

Road to 50k Week 15 - Peaks, PRs & My First Marathon

Peak Week came. Peak Week left. Thinking back on it, I realize so much more now than I ever thought myself capable of. This process has taught me so much about my own will, about my ability to focus my efforts on an end goal & my ability to put my mind to something and stick with it.

This week was amazing. I RAN MY FIRST FULL MARATHON!!! But before I get to that, let's talk about the whole week. I started off on Sunday with joining Fit Societe & Lululemon Fashion Valley for their Free Monthly Fitness Event. It was awesome & I had more Trident Coffee with MCT Oil than I probably should have. Afterwards I ended up doing a 5 Mile East Run through Crown Point & Ingraham around the outer vicinity of Sea World, because the Fit Societe wasn't in my programming so adding it meant I STILL had to get my miles in.

Sunday night, I somehow ended up in Oceanside for a night of acoustic performances by members of the SD Metal Scene : Silence Betrayed, Psychothermia, Eken Is Dead & A Hero Within. Many of these people who have been my friends I have not seen due to my own anxiety & PTSD, so it was great seeing my friends and being around them this evening.

On Monday, I knew I wanted to end the Marathon at Elevation Culture, where I was told a year ago that one day I would do an Ultra, where I laughed and said no way, where I learned to love trail running to overcome PTSD & fear of running around the streets where people knew me. It was very important for me to end my first Marathon there so the previous week I worked and worked plotting a route that would help me do that.
I ended up leaving my house and running from Crown Point / Pacific Beach through Midway, Middletown, Waterfront Park. I continued along Harbor Drive; running along Star of India, Broadway Pier, USS Midway, Seaport Village, Embarcadero Marina, SD Convention Center, Gaslamp, Little Italy and into Old Town. The last leg of the run took me into Linda Vista, Bay Park, Clairemont & ended with me running into Rose Canyon for a few miles before running into Elevation Culture as soon as I hit 26.21miles. I was so excited for this & I had me a nice cold beer waiting to celebrate my First Full Marathon.
I wrapped up my Monday night with my best friend Jon & SDAFFL friends for dinner at Amarin Thai.

Tuesday was pretty much rest day with & I took it seriously falling asleep for hours under a tree in Balboa Park before coming home for lunch then falling asleep under a tree at Crown Point Shores Park before my Recover Well class at The Movement Space, SD.

Wednesday, we had an awesome November Project SD workout consisting of EMOM movements mixed in with running loops. I'll let you gauge how sore I was by the photo below during our 5 Minute Burpee EMOM. Lol, in my defense I had also ran 4.5 miles BEFORE the workout and after the workout ran another mile to reach my 7 mile daily need.

Thursday was a day I had looked forward to for awhile. My best friend Blaise was back in town and that means I get to spend time being 100% me with my best friend. We had lunch and watched a scary movie together. Funny enough Babadook was his choice and we were both scared the whole time. As always, it involved music, playing new music, listening to each others new songs, singing together.
I ended up leaving to join Elevation Culture for what was meant to be a 6 mile Trail Run, but after it got dark and I saw a snake on the course - we stuck with 5.5 miles.

Brings me to Saturday, Performance 360 Community Workout at P360 OB with Grant. The workout programming was great and I even DB Snatched 50lbs for the first time. After PSC, we had breakfast (bomb Carnitas Benedict at OB Surf Lodge) followed by Lighthouse Ice Cream and OB Pier watching.

All around a great week for my Peak Week, surrounded by crushing goals and the best friends a guy could ever hope for. I'm grateful for the moments in my life & I'm grateful I get to share them with the people who form part of them... Next week, we TAPER. Ugh

November Project SD Burpee EMOM - Why do I look like I'm between death & trying to lower onto a squatty potty? Lol

Joalby's FIRST Marathon - Monday, October 1st, 2018

Fit Societe x Lululemon San Diego Monthly Fitness Event

When you slam your head getting ready for a picture & just have to chalk it up to karma

October Free Community Workout at Performance 360 OB

Road to 50k Week 14 - Something Smells In Here. Oh My Bad, It's Me

14 Weeks into training. 14 weeks of dedication. 14 weeks of seeing something that I once formed an opinion of, something that I never saw possible for me. 14 weeks since I saw this possibility as something achievable.
This week was pretty awesome. For starters, my buddy Damien surprised me with a ticket to Florence & The Machine. Needless to say the show was an experience and every bit the amazingness I would expect from this woman.

My long run this Monday was 24 miles long & took me on my loop from Solana Beach into Carlsbad & back for a 24 mile run, followed by Yoga for Athletes at The Movement Space with Lauren Padula that evening. I'd like to apologize for everyone in that Yoga Class, as I'm sure my feet were something offensive. Haha, and then I went from there to meet up with Grant & Dave for dinner. Again, I apologize for my runner scent at dinner. Haha. Also, I am now in love with Hammer Nutrition gels since using them at North Face Endurance Marathon Relay Wisconsin. Great energy, great taste, doesn't cause me any GI distress.  

Tuesday, I took my boy Greg's 6:30am Class at Crossfit PB. Here's the thing about me, when people align themselves and in some way form part of my journey, I like to support them as well especially if it's fitness related. Great workout & was smart enough to modify what needed to be modified per my long run. Afterward I returned to see Jared at Fix Body Group for one of my most intense adjustments yet. I'm pretty sure that he worked every single muscle in my body after not having seen him in a few weeks. Left feeling energized and put back together, and ended my day with Recover Well at The Movement Space. Many people don't foam roll enough or address myofascial release and such, so I'm glad this class exists for people like that, like me.

Wednesday was November Project San Diego PR Day & I gotta say I love the new approach to PR Day. Maybe now I'll stop traverbaling to other cities on PR Day. Haha.

Thursday!!! He's back. Rejoined Elevation Culture for Thursday Night ECTR Trail Run Thursdays. Had a blast knocking out 6 miles on the trails and ending at Bitter Brothers for a beer with my ECTR peeps, where I first realized how much I like trails.

Friday, I was up early at Convention Center for DownTown Fridays followed by a 3 Mile Run around Kate Sessions and the Soledad Road neighbourhood. There's one house I pass all the time and their basketball court out front is branded by Perfect Bar. I'm convinced, I'm gonna meet the people who live there and become friends so I can get free Perfect Bars, cos I mean they're bomb.

Next week it's on. PEAK WEEK & my long run is a Full Marathon! Do I got this. I think I gots this.
In other news can we just reflect on what a difference taking action makes? 6 years separate those first two photos, 6 years but enough to fill 3 lifetimes. Stay tuned for next week's blog, cos.... PEAK WEEK!!!

Monday September 24th = 24 Mile Long Run 

6 Years Separate these two photos. 2012 to 2018. 140+ pounds and a world of possibility

Crossfit PB Dropin with my boy, Coach Greg Kuchan